Rotor Flight Dynamics, Inc. Dominator accident near Mountain City, Tennessee, May 5, 2007
On May 5, 2007 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Rotor Flight Dynamics, Inc. Dominator (gyroplane), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mountain City, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to attempt operation of the airplane with a known physical impairment (loss of leg control) which resulted in his loss of aircraft control during takeoff and the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2007 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mountain City, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rotor Flight Dynamics, Inc. Dominator, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial Unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated to the FAA inspector that he had an accident back in the 1960's, and his back was injured. As a result of this, about 10 times a year, his legs will quit working and he will fall. On May 5, 2007, he flew his aircraft. On a latter flight that day, during the takeoff roll, he lost the use of his legs and could not control the rudders. He lost control of the aircraft and it turned over. He was trapped under the aircraft. Gas from the aircraft got on his body causing third degree chemical burns and he broke three ribs, and dislocated a shoulder. One of the EMT personnel who attended to the pilot at the accident site stated to the FAA inspector that they have records showing the pilot having an accident in the same aircraft at the same airport in March of 2007. The FAA inspector did confirm with the pilot that the same thing happened in March. He was not hurt that time; however, the aircraft was damaged. He said he now knows that he lost the use of his legs at that time, but he did not realize it then. No mechanical abnormalities with the aircraft was reported by the pilot.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax Unk (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6A4 Mountain City TN at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 pm from KTNB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.